Arsenal legend Adams believes Jose Mourinho was doing “a fantastic job” before he was sacked last season, with Sunday’s derby defeat piling the pressure on new Tottenham boss Nuno
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In pictures: Arsenal v Tottenham
Tony Adams has claimed Jose Mourinho was doing a “fantastic job” before being sacked as Tottenham boss by Daniel Levy.
And Levy was left red-faced by Adams’ remarks as Sunday’s North London Derby defeat to Arsenal piled the pressure on new manager Nuno.
Nuno is facing questions over his future just 10 games into his reign as Tottenham boss, after his side capitulated inside 35 minutes at the Emirates.
Emile Smith Rowe fired Mikel Arteta’s side ahead just 12 minutes into the Premier League clash, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang doubling the lead before Bukayo Saka capitalised on Harry Kane’s slip to make it three.
Spurs’ midfield had appeared non-existent in that first half, while Arsenal cut through their defence far too easily with their incisive passing and energetic movement.
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Son Heung-min pulled one back with 12 minutes to go, but it was too little, too late for Tottenham.
Before the game, Gunners legend Adams said both Arsenal and Spurs were in transition, and that Nuno’s side hadn’t developed their own style of play under the former Wolves boss.
And that was something he felt had been coming together under Mourinho, before the Special One was sacked in April just 17 months after replacing Mauricio Pochettino.
“Both clubs are in transition and I thought Mourinho was doing a fantastic job for Spurs to be honest,” said the former Arsenal defender on Sky Sports .
“I never thought of him as a Tottenham manager, he’s not open enough. They were getting it together Spurs, and had a good way of playing. I don’t think they’ve got that going at the minute.”
Graeme Souness disputed that Spurs could be in transition given they reached the Champions League final just two years ago under Pochettino.
“I don’t believe a team that was in the Champions League final two years ago should be in transition,” said the former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder, who said his former side had failed to capitalise on that success.
“When you get to the biggest cup final in club football you must be a decent team.
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“Okay they had the luck against Ajax and Man City and getting there but they got there. Then was the time to invest and a chance of maybe winning a major trophy.
“They’re further away from that [winning major trophy] now than they were 10 years ago.
“I think that is major and if I’m being major critical, and it hurts me because it was my first love that’s where it all started, but they’ve drifted from where they were two years down seven rungs.”
